The night was quiet, but Gian Kayne's mind was not.
The last thug's words from the bar kept playing in his head:
"The one you trust will kill you."
He stood on a rooftop, looking down at the glowing streets of Gormon City. His fists tightened. Who could it be? Who among the few he trusted would betray him?
A noise broke the silence.
Three masked men appeared from the shadows. They rushed at him with chains and knives.
Gian moved fast.
The first swung a chain. Gian caught it, pulled the man forward, and punched him hard in the face. The second came with a knife—Gian twisted his arm until the blade dropped, then smashed his head into the floor. The third tried to run, but Gian kicked him down before he reached the edge.
In less than a minute, all three were beaten.
Gian grabbed one thug by the collar. "Who sent you?"
The man trembled. "We don't know his name! He wears black robes. He pays us… to kill you!"
"Black robes?" Gian's eyes narrowed. "Why does he want me dead?"
The thug swallowed. "He said… you will destroy this city. He wants to stop you first."
Before Gian could ask more—
Bang!
A gunshot echoed. The thug's body jerked, blood spraying across Gian's coat. A sniper had shot him clean through the chest.
Gian dropped the corpse and looked across the rooftops. In the distance, a dark figure vanished into the night.
Gian's heart pounded.
Someone was hunting him. Someone powerful.
And the words of the dying man in the bar grew louder in his head.
"The one you trust will kill you…"